The Disbeliever, Hypocrite and Evil Soul Answers (22)

The great blessings bestowed or the painful punishment inflicted by Allah, the High, on the believer in his grave is something that we can’t thoroughly understand, even if all the mechanisms and devices available to us were utilised for this purpose. This is partly due to the fact that we can’t perceive, look at or touch these realities in this world. For example, we can’t see the door that opens for the believer in his grave towards paradise. Furthermore, even if we were to inspect every grave in this world, we can’t hear what the animals can hear from the grave, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“The dead are being punished in their graves, and even the animals can hear the voices.”{footnote}Classed as Saheeh by al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jaami 2369.{/footnote}

He also said:

“This Ummah will be tried in its graves. If it were not for the fear that you might not bury your dead, I would pray to Allah to make you hear what I hear.”{footnote}Saheeh Muslim and Musnad Imaam Ahmad.{/footnote}

But this is not to say that miracles don’t, won’t and can’t occur; rather what is being alluded to here is that this is not the normal perceived scientific norm. Rather, it is the divine sources, namely the Qur’aan and Sunnah, which elucidate to us the secrets hidden deep within the depths of these covered graves. It is these very divine sources that a believer wholeheartedly accepts as reality due to the various incontestable signs and facts that testify to their veracity, even if science and scientists may denounce such beliefs as being mere hypothetical superstitions. Therefore, it is belief and conviction based on knowledge which is the driving force pushing a believer to work for that day when he will be laid in an empty grave, a grave which may seem to the world as being void of life and vitality, but holds either blissful realities or painful, anguishing and distressful facts. The Prophetic Narrations which follow, mentioning the evil, hypocritical and disbelieving soul’s punishments and torture, should push us, as believers, to ask Allah with a heart full of fear, anxiety and worry for His Forgiveness and Mercy.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, after a slave is placed in his grave, and his companions walk away from him, so that he can hear the echo of their footsteps, two angels come to him.”{footnote}Al-Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote} Then he will be “made to sit (up) in his grave.”{footnote}Recorded by al-Bazzar; verified to be authentic.{/footnote}

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“When the Kaafir is placed in his grave, an angel comes to him and rebukes him…”{footnote}Aboo Daawood.{/footnote}

“Two stern angels will come to him, rebuke him and sit him up…”{footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

At this critical moment the evil soul will not be blessed with tranquility and calm being bestowed upon him, rather, just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) informed us, he will sit up in his grave utterly defeated, terrified and bewildered. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The man is sat up in his grave, scared and terrified.”{footnote}Ibn Maajah.{/footnote} Indeed, this is only the beginning; what follows will be even more difficult and stressful due to what his own hands have sent forth.

When interrogated by al-Munkar and an-Nakeer, the disbeliever will find himself confused and bewildered and it will only push him further into answering incorrectly. Then a little gap will be opened for him through which he will see the glimpse of Paradise which Allah has denied him, and this will only add to his sorrow and misery. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“…If he was a bad man, he will be sat up in his grave, full of fear and terror and he will be asked:

‘What did you say?’

He will say:

‘I heard the people saying such-and-such, so I said likewise.’”{footnote}Ahmad, the hadeeth is authentic.{/footnote}

They will say to him,

‘Who is your Lord?’

He will say,

‘Huh, huh, I do not know!’{footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

He is told,

‘May you never know!’{footnote}Recorded by al-Bazzar; verified to be authentic.{/footnote}

‘You did not know, nor did you recite (Qur'aan)!’{footnote}Recorded by Abu Dawud; verified to be authentic.{/footnote}

Imagine his sorrow and pain. Having lived for so many years in the world, with the many blessings Allah (Almighty) had bestowed on him - from health to wealth and time to leisure -he did not bother to read the Qur’aan; he didn’t sincerely try to find out about its message or even to look through some of its pages. Rather, he obliviously passed by the aisle that held it in the many libraries and bookstores he had been given the chance to visit. This is because he either didn’t care about going through the religious scriptures sincerely to find the truth, or if he did, it was for a selfish purpose, a purpose that is not deserving of guidance. As for the sinful person, who may have had the Qur’aan lying somewhere within the four corners of his own home, then this very Qur’aan will be a proof against him, as we can see from the above narration. For this reason, he will be far from correctly answering the next question posed by the angels.

They will ask him,

‘What is your religion?’{footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

‘In what religion were you?’{footnote}Ibn Maajah.{/footnote}

He will say,

‘Huh, huh, I do not know!’{footnote}This lengthy hadith is narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib and is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

He is asked,

‘What did you do?’

He replies,

‘I do not know.’{footnote}Recorded in Ibn Majah, verified to be authentic.{/footnote}

“The disbeliever or hypocrite will be asked:

‘What did you say about this man?’

‘What do you say about this man who was sent among you?’{footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

‘Who is that man?’{footnote}Recorded in Ibn Majah, verified to be authentic.{/footnote}

He will say,

‘I don’t know. I used to say whatever the people were saying.’{footnote}Agreed upon.{/footnote}

‘I used to say whatever the people were saying.’{footnote}Aboo Daawood.{/footnote}

‘I heard the people saying such-and-such, and I said likewise.’{footnote}Ibn Maajah.{/footnote}

‘I heard the people saying such-and-such, and I said likewise. I do not know.’{footnote}Classed as Hasan by al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jaami, 737.{/footnote}

He will be told,

‘You did not know and you did not care!’”{footnote}Agreed upon.{/footnote}

“He will not even know his name, but he will be told –‘Muhammad’- and he will say:

‘Huh, huh, I do not know! I heard the people saying such-and-such.’

He will be told,

‘May you never know!’”{footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

They will say:

‘We knew that you would not know.’

‘We knew that you would say this.’{footnote}Classed as Hasan by al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jaami, 737.{/footnote}

“A hole will be opened for him, through which he will see paradise with its luxuries, and he will be told:

‘Look at that which Allah has taken away from you.’

Then a hole will be opened for him, through which he will see Hellfire, parts of it consuming others. He will be told:

‘This is your place in it. You used to doubt, you died doubting and you will be resurrected doubting, Allah Willing.’ Then he will be punished.”{footnote}Ahmad, the hadeeth is authentic.{/footnote}

“A door is then opened from his grave to Hell, and he is hit a blow that can be heard by every creature except the human beings and the Jinn.”{footnote}Recorded by al-Bazzar; verified to be authentic.{/footnote}

“Then he will be struck with an iron hammer between his two ears, and will utter a cry which will be heard by every creature around him, except for Jinn and men. Then his grave will be constricted for him until his ribs are crushed.”{footnote}Agreed upon.{/footnote}

“Then a voice will call from heaven, saying:

‘He has lied, so furnish his grave from Hell, and open for him a gate to Hell.’

Then some of its heat and venom will reach him, and his grave will be constricted until his ribs are crushed together.”{footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

“The earth will then be told, ‘Press him.’So it will press him and his ribs will be crushed together. It will continue to punish him until Allah resurrects him from that place.”{footnote}Classed as Hasan by al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jaami, 737.{/footnote}

His Bad Deeds will come in the Form of a Man

“There will come to him (or there will appear before him) a man with an ugly face, badly-dressed, and foul-smelling. He will say,

‘I am your evil deeds. By Allah, I only ever saw you reluctant to obey Allah, and ever eager to disobey Him. May Allah repay you with evil!’”{footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

The disbeliever will be struck with an iron chain until he is turned to dust. “Then he will be struck between his ears with an iron hammer and will utter a cry which will be heard by the whole of creation apart from Jinn and men.”{footnote}Aboo Daawood.{/footnote}

“Then there will be sent to him one who is blind, deaf and dumb, who will carry in his hand an iron rod which, if he were to beat a camel with it, would turn it to dust. He will beat him with it until he turns to dust, then Allah will restore him, then he will be beaten again. He will let out a scream that the whole creation will hear, except for men and Jinn. Then a gate will be opened for him to Hell and his grave will be furnished from Hell. He will say,

‘My Lord, may the hour never come!’”{footnote}This lengthy hadith narrated by al-Baraa ibn Aaazib is reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, at-Tayalisi, and al-Hakim who said it is according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim.{/footnote}

“And he is told, ‘Go to sleep like a bitten person.’ And his grave is made tight on him.”

The Companion, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "What is a bitten person?"

He replied,

"One who is bitten by creatures and snakes.”{footnote}Recorded by al-Bazzar; verified to be authentic.{/footnote}

This punishment will continue, while those living on the face of the earth will continue in their daily routines and chores, oblivious to the great torment and agony this person is suffering.

They won’t be able to hear his screams; if they could have, then they would no longer be able to live, and life itself would halt.